How to Decorate a Hallway and Stairway

Hallways and stairways transition people from one room to another. While they are not typically a destination in the house, they shouldn't be forgotten when you decorate. The decor of the hallway and staircase must be consistent with the decor of the rest of the home. With a fresh coat of paint, select furnishings and some artwork, the hallway and staircase can be an enjoyable space to pass through as you move from room to room. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Hallways

1

Add a fresh coat of paint and trim. Hallways are often dark, so use a light-colored paint to brighten up the space. Use wainscoting or a chair rail to add a pleasing element to the wall. Paint it and the door trims white to stand out against the wall color.

2

Use select furnishings. The main goal of a hallway is to get you from one room to another, so don't crowd the hallway with too much furniture, which makes it difficult to walk. A console table is often enough. Decorate the table with a lamp, vase, fresh flowers and books. If there is a ledge on the bottom of the table, place woven baskets on it for an appealing look and extra storage. If the hallway leads outdoors, use a bench with pillows, a coat rack or umbrella stand.

3

Add artwork or mirrors. Mirrors are often placed above a console table to make the hallway appear bigger. Groupings of family photos or artwork may also be used. As hallways tend to be long, check that the art groupings cover at least half of the horizontal space along the wall. Too small or too few pieces of artwork will look awkward on a long wall. If there is no door at the end of the hallway, place a stunning piece of art to draw people down the hall.

Stairways

4

Lighten the stairways with paint and lighting. Stairways can often be dark, so paint them a light color. Add wall sconces for additional lighting if needed.

5

Hang artwork at eye level as you walk up the stairs. The pieces should rise at the same angle as the stairway. Use groupings of like images such as black and white pictures or family photos. If you have a split staircase, add an interesting piece of art to the landing wall.

6

Highlight the stairs by using an attractive runner on wood stairs. Other interesting techniques include painting the stairs, painting a stair runner or wall-papering the bottom portion of each stair.

7

Add furnishings at the top or bottom of the stairs. If there is space at the top or bottom, place a small table, chair or plant. This draws people in as they walk up or down the stairs.